5 Ways to Find Hidden Assets in a Divorce

4. Look for deferred salary payments, performance bonuses, or commissions. Divorcing spouses may push the “mute” button when it comes to revealing deferred salary, extra bonus money, or higher commissions they earn on the job. Check with your spouse’s company, through its human resources department, and ask for all payment records. As long as you’re still married, you have the right to get information on spousal income.

5. Watch out for these tricks. One underhanded way spouses can hide assets is to open a custodial account in their child’s name. Deposits and withdrawals can easily be made without an unsuspecting spouse knowing. Another trick: Spouses can over-withhold tax on purpose. Why? Because overpayments on taxes now triggers tax reimbursements later, usually after the divorce is finalized.

If you have a strong suspicion that your spouse is holding out on you, bring in a professional financial investigator or matrimonial lawyer to crack the case. Look for a good, qualified attorney.

Nobody likes a cash-hiding spouse, especially divorce court judges. Take the steps above to insure that when the time comes to cut the marital knot, you get the money you deserve.

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